Ebrahim is bowled by off-spinner Snape

Knight, who has made significant contributions in all five matches in Zimbabwe, was joined for the final push by the in-form Paul Collingwood of Durham, who raced to a rapid unbeaten half century.

Earlier, Grant Flower hit his fifth one-day century but Zimbabwe again struggled to post a decent total.

Flower was eventually bowled by a yorker from the excellent Andrew Flintoff to be dismissed for 104. Nobody else was able to pick up Flower's mantle to keep the score moving.

And Zimbabwe completed a typical collapse when they lurched from 204 for four to 228 all out.

But the home side should have done better. In particular, the Flower brothers had looked comfortable together on a great batting track.

Andrew Flintoff removes Flower for 104

That was until Andy, on 33, tried to hit Ben Hollioake across the line, and Knight caught the resultant skier off a top edge.

That wicket ended a partnership of 70 after a double strike from Chris Silverwood.

The Yorkshire bowler, in his first match out here, started by removing skipper Alistair Campbell - given out caught behind down the leg side in the second over of the match.

Campbell was furious, reckoning the ball had only hit his thigh pad. Stuart Carlisle followed in the Yorkshireman's next over.

And, when Silverwood came back on - he had a third wicket when Craig Wishart played on.

Grant Flower needed better support

The fifth wicket for England came when Dion Ebrahim's run-a-ball 28 was ended by Jeremy Snape, as the batsman missed with an attempted reverse sweep.

Flower followed him back to the pavilion in the following over. And the procession continued. Doug Marillier was brilliantly caught by Collingwood in the deep, and Sean Ervine was run out by Hussain's direct hit.

Viljoen was unable to stop the rot, and went for a single when he was caught by Trescothick off Snape.

The final man out was Doug Hondo, giving Snape his third wicket, though Flintoff was probably England's best bowler, generating lively pace.